How To Get The Look Of Jasmine Roth's Hidden Pantry In Your Own Home

HGTV's Jasmine Roth has helped people fix their DIY renovation mistakes on "Help! I Wrecked My House." While the designer always makes the home more functional and beautiful for the homeowners, Roth likes to take it a step further. If she can, the creative guru likes to add a detail that's not exactly what meets the eye. In one episode, Roth creates a large, walk-in pantry in the kitchen but hides it in a clever way.

"If there's one thing I really love, it's hidden features in a home. And how can you not love a hidden pantry?" Roth writes on her website. "With a bookcase that looks like a built-in that we found online, you would never know it's a pantry until you slightly push the shelf inwards," she explains. 

When the bookcase door is closed, it looks like a built-in shelf feature. With a little push, it swings open and reveals the pantry behind it. This feature also plays double duty as the door itself has storage, allowing you to store other kitchen essentials. Roth styles these shelves with baskets of cookbooks, small bowls, plants, and jars. These details cement their look as standard built-in shelves.

A secret pantry puts a unique spin on the classic kitchen feature. The feature only requires a specific kind of door to create. Jasmine Roth uses a bookcase door, such as this one from Murphy Door, which looks like a shelf until the door is opened to reveal the room. This specific door comes unfinished, so you can paint or stain it to match your decor. It also comes in left- and right-hand swings and in- and out-swings, and those features can be configured so it works in your space. The door also comes in different widths. These hidden bookcase doors can be installed in existing rooms or have a room built with it in mind.

Choosing the right version of the door has to do with the depth of the room. You want to ensure the door has enough room to swing. In the home where Roth created a secret pantry, the crew borrowed some square feet from the coat closet that was next to the pantry to enlarge the space. The new walk-in pantry allows for the door to swing into the room. However, if you have a more shallow or narrow pantry and don't have the room to expand, an out-swinging door is the best option.

When it comes to creating a secret pantry, it's often best to start with an existing space. If your kitchen already has a pantry, you're ahead a few steps. But if not, you can consider converting a neighboring closet into one or building a pantry into an adjacent space like a garage or utility area. 

Once you have a dedicated space, you should consider what features you want to include. A basic pantry just has shelves for food and ingredient storage. But more upgraded ones may have electric outlets to use small appliances within the room. You can also opt to include custom storage solutions like wine racks, a mini fridge, or produce drawers.

For a secret pantry, door placement and selection is essential. Roth opted for a shelved version, ideal for stashing cookbooks and decorative accents. However, for a lower profile, you could also use a large mirror, adding function and visually expanding your space. Or, simply finish the pantry's door to simulate continuous cabinetry, allowing it to blend in seamlessly with the rest of the kitchen.